Astrocytic tumor with large cells and worrisome features in two patients with tuberous sclerosis: drastically different diagnoses and prognoses.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disease, characterized by the development of benign tumors in several organs. During infancy, 6 - 20% of patients develop brain tumors called subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA).

CASE REPORTS: Here we present two patients with TSC, who displayed acute intracranial tumors requiring surgery. Although both tumors shared similar histological aspects with large astrocytic cells and worrisome features, immunohistochemical and genetic analysis successfully distinguished an opposite diagnosis for the two patients.
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